3D Video

Expand a 2 dimensional video into the 3D space.

An Add-On plugin package for QC Integration FX.

The Manual

3D Video is an Add-On package for CHV QC Integration FX, which needs to be installed. You can download CHV QC Integration FX directly from the Downloads section on our web-site:www.chv-plugins.com

3D Video can be purchased by itself. However you need to install the Demo version of CHV QC Integration FX which is CHV's free plugin platform for all Quartz Composer related plugins for Final Cut Studio.

The manual demonstrates the functionality of 3D Video by using a still image. Of course the plugin also works with all types of video clips.

To use 3D Video you need to apply it to your project and open its controls.

Final Cut Pro / Final Cut Express:

Open the Effects tab in the Browser window

Open the folder Video Filters

Open the folder CHV QC 3D Video

Drag the plugin CHV 3D Video onto a video clip to the timeline

Double-click the plugin in the timeline to load it into the viewer and select the Filters-tab

Motion:

Open the Library

Click on Filters

Click CHV QC 3D Video in the column to the right

Drag the plugin CHV 3D Video onto a clip or video layer/group in the timeline or the Layers tab

Click the plugin once in the Layers to open its controls

Configuration

The controls of 3D Video consist of 5 sections. Each section is designated to a specific functionality of the video filter.

3D Layer Setup: Define the configuration of the 3D layers.Camera: Define the camera position.Source: Control the source video and apply additional effects.3D Layer Expansion Mask: Define the video to be used to the layering effect and apply additional effects.Distort Layers: Distort the 3D object (twist, turn and scale the 3D layers)

(Images used for this manual to demonstrate the functionality of 3D Video's parameters.)

3D Layer Setup

Use this section to define the configuration of the 3D layers.

ModeMode defines the method how the pixels of the image or video are spread out in the 3D space. There are three configurations:

Pixel by Pixel: The pixels of the video will be spread out one by one over the layers.

Upwards: The pixels will be stacked from the bottom of the 3D object to the top.

Downwards: The pixels will be stacked starting from the top down to the bottom of the 3D object to the top.

Show Mask: This option shows the video in black & white as it is used to spread out the pixels over the layers. Dark areas will be used to form the lower areas, while brighter areas make the pixels go on higher layers.

HeightThis defines the height of the 3D object. A value of 0 will create a flat surface.

DetailDefine how many layers will be used to create the new 3D object. Up to 256 layers can be created. The render time increases with more layers. For a fast response time it is recommended to use 32 layers to setup your animation.

Threshold High
Threshold Low
Cut layers from the top and bottom.

Expand
The pixels of the incoming video are spread out in the 3D space. Each layer holds only the pixels of a specific brightness level (defined in the 3D Layer Expansion Mask section). The Expand parameter makes the surrounding layers more sensitive to other brightness levels, creating a more bulky look.

Background Color
This parameter fills the background with a defined color. The initial setting makes the background transparent.

Camera

This section defines the camera position. The X-axis being the horizontal, the Y-axis the vertical and the Z-axis the optical axis of the 3D system.

Rotate X
Rotate Y
Rotate Z
Rotates the camera around the 3D object.

Camera Pos X
Camera Pos Y
Camera Pos Z
Defines the position of the camera in the 3D space. Camera Pos Z controls the distance of the camera to the 3D object. Camera Pos X & Y control the vertical and horizontal position of the camera.

Source

Crop Border
Use this parameter to crop any unwanted (black) border from the source material.

Saturation
Brightness
ContrastThese values control the brightness, saturation and contrast of the source video. If the source video is also used for the 3D layering mask, then these values will also affect the 3D design. Higher brightness values will lift the 3D planes up. Levels above the maximum white will be clipped to the maximum white level.

(The Brightness changes)

(The Contrast changes)

Special Effect
Special Effect AmountFive effects can be applied to the incoming video: Soften, Pixellate, Edges, Crystallize, Dots. The slider Special Effects Amount controls the strength of the effect. Special Effects are not applied to the 3D layering mask.

3D Layer Expansion Mask

This sections defines the video (or image) to be used to the 3D layering effect and to apply additional effects to the mask.

Use Source
Expansion Mask
Selects if the Source is used for the creation of the 3D layering or if you want to use a different image or video, which can be defined by applying it to the Expansion Mask image well.

Use Channels
Select which channel will be used to create the 3D layering effect. You can choose from this selection:

Ignore AlphaEnable this feature to ignore the Alpha channel for the creation of the layering mask.

Invert Mask
Enable this feature to invert the 3D mask.

Special Effect
Special Effect AmountFive effects can be applied to the 3D mask video: Soften, Pixellate, Edges, Crystallize, Dots. The slider Special Effects Amount controls the strength of the effect. The Special Effects are only applied to the 3D layering mask and not to the Source video.

Soften

Pixellate

Edges

Crystallize

Dots

Tint Top
Tint Bottom
You can tint the top and bottom of the 3D object with these two parameters.

Distort Layers

This section is used to distort the 3D object (twist, turn and scale the 3D layers).

Bulge
Bulge Weight
With a Bulge value of 0 all pixels will be spread out linear over the 3D layers. Higher values will stretch the distribution of the pixels exponentionally to create a defined contrast between the lower and higher layers.

Bulge Weight defines the weight between the higher or lower brightness levels.

Twirl
This parameter rotates the layers around the center axis with the given angle.

Scale Top Width
Scale Top Height
These two parameters scale the top layers of the 3D object.

This update is a complete re-write of the last version of the Distortion-collection. The update fixes all alpha-channel issues and addresses the compatibility with Final Cut Pro 7 and Snow Leopard.

Video transitions now can distort the source and destination video at the same time. The plugin "Float" has been added to the collection.

This Distortion-collection now includes 7 video filters and 6 video transitions. A demo version can be downloaded with THIS link.

The Repair-collection

This great software collection holds the tools you need to repair
your video with Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express. Noise, dust,
spots, holes and dropouts will be gone with the new Repair-collection.